Chechnya Peace Moves Forward

October 03, 1996

Top Russian and Chechen leaders took what Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin called a "big step forward" in the peace process Thursday, signing a statement aimed at permanently settling the devastating war in Chechnya. The signing came at the end of talks involving Chechen rebel leader Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, who was visiting Moscow for the first time since a truce was agreed to six weeks ago. It gives new momentum to peace efforts that have largely been stalled since the signing of that accord, crafted by national security chief Alexander Lebed. Russian and Chechen officials signed a statement that refers to principles of a peace settlement in the war-torn republic and creates a joint commission to deal with post-war Chechen restoration.